Before selfies, Instagram and digital cameras, there was Polaroid. Founded in 1937, Polaroid was a revolution of its time: the first (and for a long time the only) way to instantly see a photo you had just taken. Now, artists, museums and galleries are following this phenomenon, using Instagram to publicize and to open up their artistic practice and lives to the world.
According to Hans Ulrich Obrist, Warhol would have loved Instagram. Indeed, his images depict the leading figures of New York’s art and social scene.
Comparing his polaroids with our IG addiction, we are quite sure, he would be the art world’s leading “influencer”:
1. He was one of the first artists who was totally into selfies and extensively photographed others but also himself going out.
2. He didn’t photograph his buddha bowl or a pug wearing a unicorn pyjama, but he literally knew anyone that mattered in New York’s art circle and took photos that matter and still write history.
Bianca Jagger and Yves Saint Laurent in Venice. © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Courtesy of TASCHEN.
3. Not everything is public (yet) but still full of surprises: A collection of previously unpublished polaroids taken by Warhol of his friend David Hockney have been released, celebrating Hockney’s 80th birthday this month.
4. He loved a sepia-tinted filter for his works and already knew much longer than all of us about the pleasing impact a uniform colour coding.
Dolly Parton and Jean-Michel Basquiat. © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Courtesy of TASCHEN.
5. Most of his snapshots have been sold at auction and also an extensive publication has been released. We guess you are still working on that?
6. Just assuming that he would have experienced an iPhone, IG account and the official fame of selfies, he probably would beat all of us in regards to skyrocketing follower numbers and rule the IG’s top ten surrounded by the Kardashians or Beyonce.
Photo via itsnicethat.com; cbsnews.com; news.artnet.com; fstoppers.com
